Deferment of Water and Sewer Rates

1. CITY OF ALAMO HEIGHTS
ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Robert Galindo, Finance Director
SUBJECT: An Ordinance Amending Chapter 19 – Water and Sewers Code of Ordinances
DATE: April 13, 2020
SUMMARY
An Ordinance amending Chapter 19 – Water and Sewers of the Code of Ordinances by ratifying
the deferment of the planned increase to the water and sewer rates from March 1, 2020 to July 1,
2020.
BACKGROUND
Ordinance No. 2113 was approved on October 22, 2018 to increase water and sewer rates after
public hearings were held and a water rate study was completed. The deferment is being requested
to assist residents and businesses with the economic hardships brought on by the COVID-19 Stay
Home, Work Safe emergency declaration.
POLICY ANALYSIS
The Utility Fund is a self-sustaining fund that relies on user rates to pay for its operations, vehicles,
equipment and infrastructure improvements. The City follows sound financial practices and the
deferment of the rate increase should not have a significant impact to the Utility Fund.
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed Ordinance amends the following sections of Chapter 19 Water and Sewers of the
Code of Ordinances that were planned for March 1, 2020 to July 1, 2020:
That Section 19-29 (d) is amended to adopt the water consumption charges per month as follows
Table 2:
Effective July 1, 2020
Consumption in
Cubic Feet (cf)
Residential
Rate per 100 cf
Multi-family
Rate per 100 cf
Commercial
Rate per 100 cf
Institutional
Rate per 100 cf
Irrigation
Rate per
100 cf
500 or less $0.92 $0.92 $1.30 $0.92 $0.92
501 to 1,000 cf $1.25 $1.25 $1.63 $1.25 $1.25
1,001 to 2,300 cf $1.80 $1.80 $2.18 $1.80 $1.80
2,301 or more $3.05 $3.05 $3.43 $3.05 $3.05

2. That Section 19-112 is amended to adopt Sewer Rates as follows:
Effective July 1, 2020
Consumption in Cubic
Feet
Residential
Standard Rate Per
100 Cubic Feet
Multi-Family,
Commercial,
Industrial Standard
Rate Per 100 Cubic
Feet
Institutional Standard
Rate Per 100 Cubic
Feet
Base Rate 500 cf or less $23.53 $23.53 $23.53
501 cf or more $3.93 $3.93 $3.93
ATTACHMENT
Attachment A – Ordinance
Robert Galindo
Finance Director
Buddy Kuhn
City Manager

3. Attachment A
ORDINANCE NO. ______
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 19 – WATER AND
SEWERS OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY
RATIFYING THE DEFERMENT OF THE MARCH 1, 2020
WATER AND SEWER RATES INCREASE TO JULY 1, 2020
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Alamo Heights approved Ordinance 2113 on
October 22, 2018 to increase water and sewer rates for three years; and
WHEREAS, the planned increase to Water and Sewer Rates approved for March 1, 2020
will be deferred until July 1, 2020; and
WHEREAS, on March 31, 2020, the Governor of the State of Texas issued a proclamation
certifying that COVID-19 poses an imminent threat of disaster in the state and declaring a state of
disaster for all counties in Texas and in order to assist residents and businesses with the economic
hardships brought on by the COVID 19 Stay Home, Work Safe emergency declaration; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of Alamo Heights has determined that it is in the best
interest of the City to defer the water and sewer rate increase by four months; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF ALAMO HEIGHTS, TEXAS:
THAT Section 19-29 (d) is amended to adopt the water consumption charges per month
as follows Table 2:
Effective July 1, 2020
Consumption in
Cubic Feet (cf)
Residential
Rate per 100 cf
Multi-family
Rate per 100 cf
Commercial
Rate per 100 cf
Institutional
Rate per 100 cf
Irrigation Rate
per 100 cf
500 or less $0.92 $0.92 $1.30 $0.92 $0.92
501 to 1,000 cf $1.25 $1.25 $1.63 $1.25 $1.25
1,001 to 2,300 cf $1.80 $1.80 $2.18 $1.80 $1.80
2,301 or more $3.05 $3.05 $3.43 $3.05 $3.05
THAT Section 19-112, is amended to adopt Sewer Rates, as follows:
Effective July 1, 2020
Consumption in Cubic Feet Residential
Standard Rate Per
100 Cubic Feet
Multi-Family,
Commercial,
Industrial Standard
Rate Per 100 Cubic
Feet
Institutional Standard Rate
Per 100 Cubic Feet
Base Rate 500 cf or less $23.53 $23.53 $23.53
501 cf or more $3.93 $3.93 $3.93

4. Attachment A
THAT, this Ordinance shall become effective upon its adoption.
PASSED AND APPROVED this the 13th
day of April, 2020.
____________________________
MAYOR
ATTEST:
__________________________________
CITY SECRETARY
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
________________________________
CITY ATTORNEY